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19-24 Months Development

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Feelings:
Toddlers experience complex emotions like anger, frustration, guilt, shame, possessiveness, and excitement, which can lead to tantrums [19].
Separation anxiety peaks around 18 months but begins to decrease by the age of 2, though toddlers still prefer to be near familiar people [19].
They begin to understand and express feelings with words and demonstrate empathy [19].

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Everyday Skills:
Toddlers show independence in feeding themselves with utensils and are getting better at dressing [19].
Signs of readiness for toilet training may appear as early as 18 months [10].

Playing and Learning:
Imaginative play develops, with pretend play becoming more complex [19].
Interaction with peers begins, although direct play might not occur [19].

Talking:
Vocal mimicry increases, with babbling becoming more word-like [19].
Vocabulary growth is rapid, with a mix of babble and real words. Understanding and use of simple sentences improve [19][20].
Awareness of self-identity and possessiveness ("mine") becomes evident [19].

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Moving:
Mobility skills advance, with running, climbing, and more coordinated movement [19].
They might start to show a hand preference by the age of 2 [19].

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Physical Development:
Engages in activities like throwing and kicking balls, stacking blocks, and enjoys riding toys [20].
Begins to gain some control over the bowels and bladder [20].

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Social & Emotional Development:
Displays signs of independence and imitates parents [20].
Shows difficulty with sharing and has frequent temper tantrums [20].
Begins to use personal pronouns and shows a preference for toys [20][21].

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Intellectual Development:
Rapid vocabulary growth and ability to use simple sentences [20].
Shows a preference for certain toys and engages in pretend play [20].

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Developmental Milestones Associated with Feeding:
Can chew effectively and use a spoon with some spilling [20].
Distinguishes between finger foods and utensils, improving hand-eye coordination during eating [20].

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Mastered and Emerging Skills (19-24 months):
Mastered skills include running, spoon use, and object recognition [21][22].
Emerging skills involve make-believe play, complex manipulation of objects, and following simple instructions [21][22].
Advanced skills, shown by a few, include self-care tasks, basic drawing, and understanding abstract concepts like time [21][22].

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Behavioural Insights for Product Development

Based on the developmental milestones and capabilities of toddlers aged 19-24 months, here are tailored recommendations for the modular playground:

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Imaginative Play Zones: Create sections within the playground that encourage imaginative play, such as mini kitchens, playhouses, and simple costumes for dress-up. This supports pretend play which sees rapid growth during these months. Toddlers at this stage enjoy pretending to perform daily tasks like cooking or sweeping [19].

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Sensory Boards and Panels: Install sensory boards with different textures, sounds, and visually stimulating elements. These can include buttons that make sounds, materials with varying textures, and panels with simple puzzles. Sensory play aids in cognitive development and fine motor skills [19][20].

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Climbing and Movement Structures: Incorporate low climbing frames, slides, and soft obstacles that toddlers can navigate. These elements cater to their increasing physical capabilities, like climbing and running, helping improve gross motor skills. Ensure safety by using soft materials and making sure structures are low to the ground [19][20].

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Interactive Musical Instruments: Set up simple, durable musical instruments like drums, xylophones, or maracas in a music corner. Music play supports intellectual development and can be a source of joy and exploration for toddlers [20].

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Art and Scribbling Stations: Provide areas with chunky crayons, large paper, and washable markers for drawing and scribbling. This encourages creativity and supports fine motor coordination. At this stage, toddlers begin to enjoy scribbling and may start drawing straight lines or circles [3].

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Ball Play Area: Include a section with a variety of balls (soft, textured, large, small) to promote throwing, kicking, and rolling. These activities support physical development, coordination, and understanding of cause and effect [19][20].

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Simple Puzzles and Shape Sorters: Offer puzzles with large pieces and shape sorters to help toddlers improve problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination. Ensure puzzles are simple, with few pieces, suitable for their developmental stage [21].

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Quiet Zone: Create a calm area with soft seating, books, and stuffed animals where toddlers can relax or engage in quieter activities. This can help balance active play with moments of calm, catering to the varied energies and interests of toddlers [19][21].

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Safety and Accessibility: Ensure all areas are safe, with soft surfaces to cushion falls, rounded corners on equipment, and designs that are easily accessible for parents to supervise and interact with their children. Include shaded areas to protect from sun exposure [19][20].

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